The Odisha Union of Journalists (OJU) on Sunday said it would stage a dharna in front of the State Assembly during the coming Monsoon Session to protest rising incidence of attacks on journalists and Government’s failure to protect them.“The State Government is yet to implement promises it made time and again for protection and welfare of the journalists. It is a sheer betrayal when cases of attacks on journalists are rising in the State,” alleged OJU functionaries at a meeting held here on Sunday.
Members expressed unhappiness that though Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had made promises to fulfill some of journalists’ demands before the last general elections, he is yet to implement those.The demands include increasing of Journalists’ Welfare Fund to Rs5 crore, insurance coverage for all journalists and provision of a special law for their protection.OUJ president Prakash Chandra Panigrahi presided over the meeting wherein National Union of Journalists general secretary Prasanna Mohanty graced as special guest.
Among others, OUJ general secretary Ajay Kumara Sahu, secretary Kailash Jena, Meenakshi Nayak, treasurer Sudhansu Sekhar Parida, welfare fund chairman Kishan Rout, organising secretary Amulya Swain, advisor Nimain Charan Mohanty, Pramod Samantaray, Kambhupani Mishra, Sujit Behera and Sharat Parida were present.